Soda-water fountain.



No. 7"],949. Patented Oct. I4, I902.

E. J. CALLEY.

SODA WATER FOUNTAIN.

(Application filed Dec. 23, 1901.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAS J. OALLEY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SODA-WATER FOUNTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,949, dated October 14, 1902.

Application filed December 23, 1901. Serial. No. 86,895. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS J. OALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soda-VVater Fountains; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The present invention relates to the body portion of the fountain, and more particularly to the means for actuating the valve of the syrup-jars hidden or covered by the front of the fountain, the arrangement being such that the valve-keys are connected or disconnected from the valve of the syrup-jars with the closing or opening of a swinging panel hinged or movably attached to the fountainbody, the object of the invention being to simplify the connection between the key and valves and to lessen the expense attached to the manufacture of the syrup-jars at present employed in connection with soda-Water fountains.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a front View of the body portion of a soda-water fountain with one of the panels broken. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional end View illustrating one of the body-panels swung outward or open, taken on line m :0, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View of one of the panels, illustrating one of the valve-keys.

In the drawings the letter A is used to indicate the body of the fountain, within which the syrup-jars A are located. These jars or cans rest upon the shelf B, each jar being provided with an outlet-valve B, which works within the valve-casing B attached to the lower end of the jars. The stem at of each valve projects beyond its casing B Any desired shape may be given to the projecting end of the stem 0; but I prefer to make the same rectangular. Inasmuch as the valvecasing B projects below the syrup jars,which are arranged side by side, it is required that the face or edge of shelf B have semicircular seats 7) formed therein. Vithin these seats fit the valve-casings B The syrup jars, cans, or receptacles are covered by the panels 0, which panels are hinged at c or otherwise movably secured to the innor edges of the side strips or plates 0. These panels have fitted therein a series of rotatable disks G which carry or hold the valvekeys D. The inner end of each key is provided with. a vertical slot 01, into which the rectangular end of the valve-stems a restwhen the panels 0 are closed. The disks 0 are held in place by means of the turn-buttons (1', attached to the inner face of the panels. These buttons when turned crosswise bear against the outer edge of the disks and hold the same against inward movement, the shape of the panel-openings 61 into which they rest, preventing outward movement thereof. While the disks are held against inward and outward movement, they are free to rotate within their seats in the panels 0. When the panels are closed, the same are held in proper position by. means of the division-column E, the lower edge of the panels resting upon the inclined ledgef projecting laterally from said division column. Preferably the ends of allof the valve-stems a occupy a horizontal position when the valves are shut off, and previous to closing the panels all of the operating-handles of the keys D are so turned as to cause the slotted ends of said keys to assume a corresponding horizontal position, and by reason of said slots in said ends passing entirely across the same and opening at both ends the stems a may readily enter the same and become operatively associated with the keys D, irrespective of the angularity of the approach of the same when thepanels are closed. It is to be understood, however, that the said slots and stems may normally occupy a vertical position, and in this instance the slots will be sufficiently wide to allow a play of the stems therein to facilitate the engagement of the stems with the slots when the same approach at an angle incident to the closing'of the pan els. The inclination of ledges f causes the panels to properly close as swung inward and prevents sagging thereof, and at the same time places the slotted end of the keys D in registry with the rectangular end of the valvestems a.

The panels G are constructed of material in keeping with the body of the fountain and ornamented, so as to enhance the appearance thereof.

Ordinarily where the fountain is constructed of marble or tile it is customary to make the syrup-jar of earthenware and to ornament the face thereof,so that the said jars will present an ornamented front to the fountain. This of necessity makes the syrup-jars quite expensive. WVhen so arranged, the valvekey is attached directly to the valve-stem. In case it is desired to replenish the syrupjar the same has to be withdrawn from within its seat. Should the jar become accidentally broken, the continuity of the fountain-front is destroyed until a new jar is substituted.

By providing swinging or movable panels for the body of the fountain, which panels cover or hide the jars from view, I am enabled to dispense with the expense attached to the fruit-jars, as it is not required that glazed or ornamental jars be employed. By the present arrangement metallic,plain earthenware,or glass jars maybe employed, as they are hidden from View.

The body-panels O terminate a distance above the platform D, so as to give ample room to insert the glasses D thereunder.

The face of the fountain is provided with the usual mineral-water faucets E and the soda-water faucet E.

To draw the syrup, it is only required to turn the key, say, to the'right, which rotates the disk (3 and turns the valve B to open same. Areverse movement of the key closes the valve B.

In case it is desired to refill the syrup-jars it is only required to unlock the panel C and swing same outward. This exposes to view all jars covered by such panel. The jar or jars may then be removed or simply tilted over to be refilled. When the panel stands open, the jars may be quickly and easily cleaned, which is an important feature in connection with fountains.

It will be understood that as the panel closes the slotted end of the valve-keys move onto the projecting end of the valve-stem, so that the parts perfectly register when the panel stands closed. As the panel is opened all of the keys are disconnect-ed from the valve-stems at the same time.

Each valve-key is immovably secured within its disk or bushing 0 The panels G are held closed or locked in any suitable manner. A simple and effective means of locking the panels is by the employment of an ornamental button E secured to the division-column E. This button when turned downward bears against the edge of the panels and holds the same against outward movement. To release the panels, it is only required that the button be turned upward.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be covered by Letters Patent, is

1. In a soda-water fountain, the combination of the syrup-jar having a valved outlet, a compartment for said jar, a panel forming the outer wall or face of said compartment, said panel having an opening (1 avalve-key, and means for rotatably supporting said valve-key in operative relation to the valved outlet of the syrup-jar, comprising a disk 0 inserted in the opening in the panel, and turnbuckles d on the interior of the panel adapted to engage the disk 0 at opposite points to retain the same in place, substantially as described.

2. In a soda-water fountain, the combination of the syrup-jar having a valved outlet, a compartment for said jar, a panel forming the outer wall or face of the compartment, said panel having an opening 61 a valve-key,

and means for rotatably supporting said valve-key in operative relation to the valved outlet of the syrup-jar comprising a disk 0 inserted in the opening in the panel, and a turnbuckle d on the interior of the panel adapted to engage the disk C to retain the same in place, substantially as described.

3. In a soda-water fountain, the combination of a series of syrup-jars each having a valved outlet, a compartment for said jars, a panel forming the outer wall or face of said compartment said panel having a plurality of openings 61 corresponding to the number of valved outlets, a corresponding number of valve-keys, and means for rotatably supporting one valve-key in each opening (1 in operative relation to the adjacent valved outlet of one of the syrup-jars comprising a disk C for each key inserted in the openingin the panel, and means intermediate of the adjacent disks for holding the same in place, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ELIAS J. OALLEY. l Vitnesses:

HARRY J. LASK, WALTER F. VANCE. 

